Cobalt always builds pleasant surprises into their boats, and the 25' 6" (7.77 m) A25 bowrider has several. Her forward cockpit converts between three individual seats and a wraparound bench. Round deck lockers are purpose-built for fender stowage. The aft bench backrest flips forward to turn the sunpad into a double-wide chaise lounge. No surprise, though, is the A25's quality, a hallmark of every Cobalt model.

Specifications

Cobalt A25 (2011-) Specifications

Length Overall

25' 6'' 7.77 m

Dry Weight

5,125 lbs. 2,325 kg

Beam

8' 6'' 2.59 m

Tested Weight

N/A

Draft

39'' .99 m

Fuel Cap

50 gal. 189 L

Deadrise/Transom

21 deg.

Water Cap

10 gal. 38 L

Max Headroom

open

Bridge Clearance

8' 2'' 2.49 m w/ arch

Prices, features, designs, and equipment are subject to change. Please see your local dealer or visit the builder's website for the latest information available on this boat model.

Cobalt A25 (2011-) Captain's Report

In her standard arrangement, the Cobalt A25 has individual seating for three in the bow, but flip-out filler cushions under the forward-facing seats turn this area into a wraparound-seated playpen. Or, rig the optional table for snacking.

A Versatile Arrangement

You never know what assortment of people you'll take out on a boat like the Cobalt A25: One day it will be you and a significant other (maybe you prefer to share a seat), the next day a mix of adults and kids, and the next day older folks who want seats to themselves. Cobalt designers incorporated a wide range of options in the A25 seating, but they all come standard. No matter who you have aboard, you should be able to work out an acceptable seating plan.

Instead of a typical wraparound seats in the bow, the A25 has single seats port and starboard and a centerline bench seat at the bow. Prefer a wraparound? Filler cushions will create one, or an L-lounge and single seat.

The bow converts between three individual seats and a full wraparound with flip-out filler cushions – or you can fill just one side and have a L-lounge and a single seat. Because the fillers are flip-out, there's no stowage problem, either. An optional table can mount here as well, with a second mounting point in the cockpit.

This stainless-steel receptacle in the bow holds the optional dinette table ($751); there's another receptacle in the cockpit.

There's a single swivel helm seat and a companion bench opposite – but it has a reversible backrest: In the normal position it lets the co-pilot face forward, but flip the backrest forward and the companion seat becomes an aft-facing lounge, ideal for a single person to catch rays while underway but still stay safe in the cockpit. There's a single, inboard-facing jump seat aft of the helm seat, too.

To port, the lounge has a reversible back, and does double-duty as both a forward-facing companion helm seat and an aft-facing observer's seat or sunpad.

Like most boats, the A25 has a nearly full-beam bench seat aft, with the passage to the stern platform to its starboard. It, too, has a flip back: Pushed aft, it serves the bench seat; forward, it can double as a back rest for the sunpad, creating a chaise lounge for two.

With the seat back flipped forward, the sunpad becomes a chaise lounge for two, or you can lay it flat. The cutout is for the mount for the ski tow pylon.

Add a Hydraulic Platform

The standard A25 has an extended swim platform with ladder – no surprises. But Cobalt offers an optional hydraulic platform that lowers 11" (28 cm) to create an underwater seat for folks who like being awash. It also facilitates reboarding after a swim for those not happy with scrambling up a ladder. (The hydraulic platform also includes a ladder, though.)

Note the wide "flank extensions" that add lift aft to prevent squatting under hard acceleration and shorten time-to-plane; they also serve as steps for boarding from a dock. The standard extended swim platform comes with a stainless steel ladder, or you can upgrade to a hydraulic version ($6,078) which...

... submerges 11" to let folks sit awash in the sea. A transom shower ($523) and underwater lighting ($1,938) are also available.

Robust Construction

Some boats of this size and type are built using rudimentary construction techniques, but Cobalt uses first-class technology. The hand-laid fiberglass hull is supported by fiberglass stringers and a wood-free composite transom. (Wood-cored transoms can rot after years of water intrusion through the cut-out for the sterndrive. Repair is an expensive process.) The stringers are bonded to the hull, and incorporate fiberglass motor mounts. Cobalt's fiberglass liner incorporates a honeycomb-reinforced cockpit sole; the honeycomb core makes the sole very stiff but keeps it light, too. And it reduces noise.

Cobalt covers the A25 with a 10-year hull and deck warranty, a five-year engine warranty and a three-year gelcoat and upholstery warranty. All are transferable to subsequent owners.

The helm has room for flush-mounting a nav unit. The gauges on either side are easy to read, combine analog and digital readouts. We like the stainless steel wheel with its leather-wrapped rim. There's wood trim on the dash, hard to see in this picture, shot by our editor at the Miami Boat Show.

There are excellent, unobstructed sight lines from the helm, thanks to a tall windshield frame. What, no compass? Cobalt includes a digital model as standard, but we'd want an old-fashioned magnetic compass, too. It would be tricky to mount on the curved console.

We like the lighted, push-button switches – push one and an illuminated ring tells you it's switched on. The labels are also lighted, another nice touch you get from a builder with Cobalt's eye to quality.

Very Handy Deck Hatches

Aren't you annoyed with the hassle of stowing fenders and docklines? So are we and so, apparently, are the Cobalt folks. They built a pair of fender-stowage lockers into the deck of the A25, one at each corner of the windshield where you can reach them from onboard or from a floating dock.

Port and starboard deck hatches just forward of the windshield corners look too small to be of much use...

... until you open one to reveal purpose-built fender stowage. We love this kind of detail.

Prices and Our Opinion

Pricewise the Cobalt A25 is close to the top of the range – MSRP starts at $90,055 with a 300-hp Volvo Penta 5.7 GiC DP, and rises to $110,030 with the most powerful engine, the 430-hp MerCruiser 8.2 Mag HO Bravo 3. We haven't tested the A25, but Cobalt claims speeds ranging from 47–49 mph (76–79 kph) with the least power to 52–54 mph (84–87 kph) with the big MerCruiser. There are other power options from both engine builders in between these two. Digital controls are extra for all engines.

You'll probably want to add a Bimini top ($1,754), or maybe a stainless steel arch ($12,052); it includes a Bimini. Cobalt remands some things we think should be standard to the options list, especially given her price. The Bimini is one, an automatic fire-extinguishing system ($646) is another, transom shower ($523) a third.

Cobalt is known for building high-quality, well-appointed vessels, enjoys strong owner loyalty and has won a slew of J. D. Power customer-satisfaction awards. But the company faces strong competition from Formula, Doral, Chris-Craft and other companies that also build excellent boats. Getting there is half the fun, so spend lots of time at boat shows and visiting dealers and pick the boat that's just right for you. We wouldn't be surprised if you find the Cobalt A25 is a hard act to beat.

Cool styling means a lot to us, and the Cobalt A25 has aesthetics to spare.

Standard and Optional Equipment

Cobalt A25 (2011-) Standard and Optional Equipment

Marine Electronics

GPS/Chart

Systems

CD Stereo

Trim Tabs

Exterior Features

Carpet: Cockpit

Outlet: 12-Volt Acc

Swim Ladder

Swim Platform

Transom Shower

Canvas

Bimini Top

Cockpit Cover

= Standard = Optional

Cobalt A25 (2011-) Warranty

Cobalt A25 (2011-) Warranty Information

Warranties change from time to time. While BoatTEST.com has tried to ensure the most up-to-date warranty offered by each builder, it does not guarantee the accuracies of the information presented below. Please check with the boat builder or your local dealer before you buy any boat.

Full Warranty Information on this brand coming soon!

Cobalt A25 (2011-) Price

Cobalt A25 (2011-) Price

Pricing Range

$90,055.00

Prices, features, designs, and equipment are subject to change. Please see your local dealer or visit the builder's website for the latest information available on this boat model.